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WASHINGTON As their campaigns spar over the issue of counting Florida's Democratic delegates, Barack Obama maintains his edge over Hillary Rodham Clinton in attracting dollars from Tampa Bay area donors.
However, Clinton still outpaces both Obama and presumptive Republican presidential nominee John McCain in raising cash statewide, according to their latest finance reports that reflect donations through Feb. 29.
The new filings also underscore how Florida – at least through the end of last month – continued to be a fundraising trough for the presidential candidates from both parties, despite the Democratic squabbles about the state's primary.
Clinton took in $2.1 million during the first two months of 2008, adding to the $6.1 million she already raised in the state in 2007, the new reports filed with the Federal Election Commission show. Among all states, Florida represented Clinton fourth biggest source of campaign donations in both January and February.
Obama raised $1.71 million in the state in January and February, adding to the $3.5 million he raised in Florida last year. The state represented his ninth biggest source of campaign donations among states for both months.
And McCain raised $1.77 million in Florida in January and February, which combines with the $2.2 million he raised in the state in all of 2007. Florida was McCain's top fundraising source among all states in January, the month Republicans and Democrats held their primaries in the state. Florida was McCain's fifth top fundraising state in February.
“The bottom line for several election cycles now is that Florida has been a critical cash cow for both parties,” said Susan MacManus, a University of South Florida political scientist.
“But for many here, that is starting to seem a bit like consumer fraud,” warned MacManus.
MacManus said she sees growing frustration, or even anger, among many Florida Democrats over the possibility they may not be represented by voting delegates at the Democratic national convention this summer.
Clinton grabbed more votes than Obama in Hillsborough, Pasco and Polk counties on her way to winning the Democratic half of Florida's Jan. 29 primary.
But Obama has dismissed his loss because no delegates were at stake and campaigning had been limited in the state. The national party had stripped Florida of its delegates because the state moved its primary date to before Feb. 5.
Clinton had joined with her rivals in pledging not to campaign in Florida before the primary. But she has been arguing that the voters of in Florida should, in fact, have their votes reflected in some way with delegates at the convention.
That dispute is being waged as the two candidates remain in a close race for the party's nomination, with Obama holding a lead in delegates.
While he trails Clinton in statewide fundraising, Obama continued to raise more money than Clinton in the Tampa Bay area.
Obama raised $97,992 in January and February from donors in Hillsborough County, bringing his total for the county since the start of 2007 to $413,543.
The Illinois senator also raised $10,938 in those two months from Pasco County, bringing his total there to $26,060. And he raised another $7,981 in January and February from Polk County, bringing his total since the start of 2007 there to $15,942.
Clinton took in $57,559 from Hillsborough County in the first two months of the year, bringing her total since the start of 2007 to $243,551.
She also raised $13,346 in Pasco County, giving her a total $24,051 from that county, and $10,131 from Polk County in January and February, giving her total since 2007 there to $41,026.
McCain topped both Democrats in Hillsborough County in January and February by raising $110,360, bringing his total since January 2007 there to $214,357.
The Arizona senator also raised $6,915 in Pasco County during those two months, for a total since 2007 of $13,559. And he also raised $2,445 in January and February in Polk County, bringing his total there since the start of 2007 to $10,224.
But USF's MacManus says continuing to find big campaign dollars in Florida may not be a certainty for the eventual Democratic presidential nominee if the party doesn't resolve the delegate issue in a way that is satisfactory to contributors in the state.
Already, Chris Korge, Clinton's top Florida fundraiser, has said he's considering asking for the return of $140,000 he raised in a fundraiser at his home in December with DNC chairman Howard Dean.
Jacksonville-based Mason-Dixon pollster Brad Coker said he agrees that the resentment could also eventually hurt the party's nominee.
“If we go through this convention and Florida is totally unrepresented, that is going to create a bad situation for the Democrats,” said Coker. “I suspect it will be hard to raise money from the traditional Florida fundraising bases, if that were to occur.”
Reporter Billy House can be reached at (202) 662-7673 or bhouse@mediageneral.com.
However, Clinton still outpaces both Obama and presumptive Republican presidential nominee John McCain in raising cash statewide, according to their latest finance reports that reflect donations through Feb. 29.
The new filings also underscore how Florida – at least through the end of last month – continued to be a fundraising trough for the presidential candidates from both parties, despite the Democratic squabbles about the state's primary.
Clinton took in $2.1 million during the first two months of 2008, adding to the $6.1 million she already raised in the state in 2007, the new reports filed with the Federal Election Commission show. Among all states, Florida represented Clinton fourth biggest source of campaign donations in both January and February.
Obama raised $1.71 million in the state in January and February, adding to the $3.5 million he raised in Florida last year. The state represented his ninth biggest source of campaign donations among states for both months.
And McCain raised $1.77 million in Florida in January and February, which combines with the $2.2 million he raised in the state in all of 2007. Florida was McCain's top fundraising source among all states in January, the month Republicans and Democrats held their primaries in the state. Florida was McCain's fifth top fundraising state in February.
“The bottom line for several election cycles now is that Florida has been a critical cash cow for both parties,” said Susan MacManus, a University of South Florida political scientist.
“But for many here, that is starting to seem a bit like consumer fraud,” warned MacManus.
MacManus said she sees growing frustration, or even anger, among many Florida Democrats over the possibility they may not be represented by voting delegates at the Democratic national convention this summer.
Clinton grabbed more votes than Obama in Hillsborough, Pasco and Polk counties on her way to winning the Democratic half of Florida's Jan. 29 primary.
But Obama has dismissed his loss because no delegates were at stake and campaigning had been limited in the state. The national party had stripped Florida of its delegates because the state moved its primary date to before Feb. 5.
Clinton had joined with her rivals in pledging not to campaign in Florida before the primary. But she has been arguing that the voters of in Florida should, in fact, have their votes reflected in some way with delegates at the convention.
That dispute is being waged as the two candidates remain in a close race for the party's nomination, with Obama holding a lead in delegates.
While he trails Clinton in statewide fundraising, Obama continued to raise more money than Clinton in the Tampa Bay area.
Obama raised $97,992 in January and February from donors in Hillsborough County, bringing his total for the county since the start of 2007 to $413,543.
The Illinois senator also raised $10,938 in those two months from Pasco County, bringing his total there to $26,060. And he raised another $7,981 in January and February from Polk County, bringing his total since the start of 2007 there to $15,942.
Clinton took in $57,559 from Hillsborough County in the first two months of the year, bringing her total since the start of 2007 to $243,551.
She also raised $13,346 in Pasco County, giving her a total $24,051 from that county, and $10,131 from Polk County in January and February, giving her total since 2007 there to $41,026.
McCain topped both Democrats in Hillsborough County in January and February by raising $110,360, bringing his total since January 2007 there to $214,357.
The Arizona senator also raised $6,915 in Pasco County during those two months, for a total since 2007 of $13,559. And he also raised $2,445 in January and February in Polk County, bringing his total there since the start of 2007 to $10,224.
But USF's MacManus says continuing to find big campaign dollars in Florida may not be a certainty for the eventual Democratic presidential nominee if the party doesn't resolve the delegate issue in a way that is satisfactory to contributors in the state.
Already, Chris Korge, Clinton's top Florida fundraiser, has said he's considering asking for the return of $140,000 he raised in a fundraiser at his home in December with DNC chairman Howard Dean.
Jacksonville-based Mason-Dixon pollster Brad Coker said he agrees that the resentment could also eventually hurt the party's nominee.
“If we go through this convention and Florida is totally unrepresented, that is going to create a bad situation for the Democrats,” said Coker. “I suspect it will be hard to raise money from the traditional Florida fundraising bases, if that were to occur.”
Reporter Billy House can be reached at (202) 662-7673 or bhouse@mediageneral.com.